Steering racks

Rack-and-pinion steering   is quickly becoming the most common type of steering on cars, small trucks and SUVs. It is actually a pretty simple mechanism. A rack-and-pinion gearset is enclosed in a metal tube, with each end of the rack protruding from the tube. A rod, called a tie rod  , connects to each end of the rack.

The pinion gear is attached to the steering shaft  . When you turn the steering wheel, the gear spins, moving the rack. The tie rod at each end of the rack connects to the   steering arm on the spindle.

The rack-and-pinion gear set does two  things: